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Dogs 'can differentiate between happy and angry faces'
person smiling with dog
Half the dogs were rewarded for touching an image of a happy face, while the other half were rewarded for touching a picture of an angry face.
New research suggests dogs may know the difference between human facial expressions

According to new research, dogs can tell the difference between happy and angry human faces - a fact which may come as no surprise to dogs owners.

Scientists from the Messerli Research Institute's Clever Dog Lab in Vienna trained dogs to link pictures of happy and angry faces with a reward, BBC News has reported.

Twenty dogs were repeatedly shown half-pictures - either of the lower mouth or upper eye area of happy and angry human faces.

Half of the dogs were given a treat when their nose touched the happy pictures, while the other half received a treat when their nose touched the angry pictures.

Following this, researchers carried out a number of tests on just over half of the dogs (who were deemed to have learned the task well enough).

Lead researcher Ludwig Huber told BBC News that in one test condition, the dog were shown pictures of new faces that they had not seen in training. In another, they were shown different parts of the same faces.

Dr Kun Guo from the University of Lincoln told the BBC: "Showing dogs only half of the face and then the other half separately means they can't rely on the shape of the eyes or mouth - they must have some sort of template in their mind.

"So it looks like they can really discriminate between happy and angry."

However, the findings, which have been published in Current Biology, do not show that the dogs actually understand the meaning behind these expressions, he added.

While Dr Huber agreed with this, he noted that the group of dogs who had to touch the angry face during training took three times longer to learn the task than the other group.

"So here we have some suggestive evidence that they interpret those pictures, and maybe they really understand an angry face to be something they don't like," he told BBC News.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.